Outside in Antarctica

ESA's research medical doctor in Antarctica protected against the freezing conditions outside the French-Italian research base Concordia.

The crew of Italian-French research station, Concordia, in Antarctica are subjected to almost nine months of complete isolation per year. The station’s location, at 3233 m altitude, means inhabitants also experience chronic hypobaric hypoxia – lack of oxygen to the brain – making it an ideal environment to better understand how humans adapt and survive in extreme conditions.

During the Antarctic winter, the crew of up to 15 people also endure four months of complete darkness: the sun disappears in from May and is not seen again until late August. Temperatures can drop to –80°C in the winter, with a yearly average of –50°C.

After reviewing 20 years of space research on Earth, researchers have established sound knowledge on this exact topic. Some of the tips below will come as no surprise, but solidifying this research is what helps space agencies choose astronauts who will explore farther, and achieve their mission – whether that is on the Moon, Mars or elsewhere.